Ball-bearing mechanism



No Model.)

v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. G.`BRANDENBURG. BALL BEARING MBGQANISM.

Patented Mar. 10, 1896,

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ANDREW EGRANAM4 PHOTO-LITHOAWASH INGUN. D.C.

(,'N Model.) Y I 2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

' G. G. BRANDENBURG.

BALL BEARING MEGHANISM. No. 556,249. Patented'Mar.-1o,1a96.

ANDREW E GRANAMJHD'TDUTHO WASNINGTONI C UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE G. BRANDENBURG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BALL-BEARING IVIECHANISM.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,249, dated March 10, 1896.

Application filed January 2l, 1895. Serial No. 535,613. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE G. BRANDEN- BURG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the countyof Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ball-Bearing Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ball-bearings for vehicles generally, though Vmore especially for bicycles.

My object is to provide a ball-bearing construction which shall render the parts readily adjustable to take up any wear in use, and which shall house the bearing-surfaces effectively against access thereto of dust and afford altogether a particularly light, strong, durable, and effective antifriction-bearing for its purpose.

To the above ends my invention consists in the general construction of my improvements and it also consists in details of construction and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a bicycle-pedal involving my improvements; Fig. 2, an inner end view, Fig. 3 aside view, Fig. il an outer end View, and Fig. 5 an enlarged broken longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 6, a broken sectional view of the inner end portion of a pedal, showing a modified form of nut-lock; Fig. 7, a bicycle-wheel hub and axle provided with my improvements; Figs. 8 and 13, sectional and elevational views, respectively, of a bearing-nut; Figs. 9 and 11, sectional and `elevational views, respectively, of a dustwasher; Figs. 10 and 12, sectional and elevational views, respectively, of a dished ring which when pressed into position forms a washer-retaining collar; and Fig. 14, an enlarged broken sectional view ofa detail of the construction.

A is a foot-piece or pedal-frame, consisting of a loop of soft steel or other comparatively soft metal, formed with the serrated side bars Z, end stop projections 15, and inward-projecting cup-shaped outer end flange, s, and inner end flange, r. The cups or flanges s' r are provided at their outer end portions with the internal screw-threads, forming threaded sockets s' r', and terminate at their inner end portions in thecylindrical projections s2 r2. Extending at opposite ends'into the cylindrical projections s2 r2 and fastened thereto, preferably with rivets q', is a housing-cylinder g. The cups s r and cylinder q form the hub of the pedal.

B is a shaft or crank pin, which for the sake of lightness is inade'hollow and tapering, as shown. At its outer end portion the crankpin is formed with a'cone-bearing p, having an annular, preferably concave, ball-bearing surface p2 The inner end portion of the crank-pin is formed with a cone-bearing n, havingan annular, preferably socketed, ballbearing surface n', a straight cylindrical surface n2, shoulder n3, reduced and slightly-taperin g portion 97,4 and threaded end portion n.5.

C is a ball-bearing cup having a flange m provided, preferably, with straight edges fm', a threaded part m2 to engage the threaded socket s of the pedal-frame, and a central conical projection m3 surrounded by an annular ball-bearing recess m4. The end of the hollow bearing-pin Bis recessed to fit loosely over the projection m3. v

D is a bearing-nut having a flange Z formed with a peripheral ratchet Z, a cylindrical part Z2 threaded on its outer side to enter and engage the threaded socket r', and an inwardlyprojecting annular stop or shoulder Z3. In the face of the flange Z is an annular shallow dovetailed recess Z", and between the recess Z4 and shoulder Z3 is an annular recess Z5 of less diameter than the recess Z4. The inner circumference of the part Z2 with the annular shoulder Z3 form a concave ball-bearing surface Z6. Fitting loosely in the recess Z5 is a preferably metal dust-washer D', which is held in place by means of a washer-retainin g collar D2.

As I prefer to construct the parts, the washer D is placed in the recess Z5, and a collar D2 is provided having a chamfered edge and of dished shape, as shown in Figs. l0 and 12, and which, while dished, is just capable of entering the recess Z4. Pressure is then exerted against the dished collar to flatten it out and cause it to expand at its chamfered periphery to fill out the dovetailed recess.

In adjusting the parts together the cup C is first screwed into place and the desired number of balls X is dropped into the housing-cylinder q. The crank-pin is then passed into the end r of the pedal-frame, and when IOO pressed in the direction of the bearing-cup the conical projection m3 of the latter will operate to spread and position the balls so that they will lie between the bearing-surfaccsp m2. The bearing-nutD is then passed over the end of the bearing-pin,iilled with the balls X', and then screwed into the threaded socket r. The dust-washer D' fits closely over the surface n2 of the crank-pin B, and also fits closely in the socket afforded bythe recess Z5 and collar D2. The arrangement of the parts is such that the joints between the washer and surface n2 and between the washer and the side walls of the socket in which it is held are dust-tight, while permitting free rotation of the washer in the socket.

In practice the diameter of the base of the socket Z5 is materially greater than the diameter of the dust-washerD', which fits therein. The dust-washer is thus allowed to play in the socket to a limited extent in the plane at right angles to the shaft. Any wear upon the adjacent balls 01' bearings will cause the washer to shift in the socket Z5 to an extent equal to such wear, so that the weight will always be upon the bearin gs and never upon the washer. This is a very important feature of my construction, because it enables me to provide and maintain a du st-proof joint about the shaft with a metallic washer which will not be affected by wear upon the shaft-bearings.

It has been usual hitherto to provide dustH washers of leather or other flexible material sprung into annular sockets on the bearingnut crank pin or shaft, and it is found in practice that such washers, from the veryfact of their being sprung into their seats,are loose and do not produce dust-tight joints. lVhen saturated with oil, they swell and bind more or less against the bearing-surfaces, producing material friction, and they also tend to hold dust and grind it against the bearingsurfaces to the injury of t-he latter.

My improved washer is not only dust-excluding, but as it may revolve freely in its retaining-socket friction is reduced practically to the minimum.

Tightening of the bearing-nut D presses the balls X into the socket-bearing n and the balls X into the bearing-cup C, so that there will be no looseness of the parts. In the flange o', at the location shown, is an oiling-openin g frf, through which oil may be poured to lubricaie all the bearing-surfaces. Adjacent to the opening r3 is a threaded opening t2 through the frame A for a screw Zt. The screw 7c has a threaded shank Zr', provided in one end with a socket 7a2 to receive a screw-driver, and its opposite end portion is flared and recessed to form a cup 7a3. In the side of the cup portion 7c3 is a' slot 7a4. The screw lf. performs the offices of a lock for the bearing-nut D and a cover for the oilopening r3. lVhen the nut D is tightened, the screw 7.; may be turned in the threaded opening t2 to draw it into one of the peripheral sockets of the ratchet Z', whereby the nut is locked against turning in the threaded socket r. lVhen it is desired to oil thebearings, the screw may be turned to cause thc slot rf* to register with the opening 0'. The spout of an oil-can may then be inserted into the cup 7c3 and the oil poured without danger of its being spilled. After pouring in the oil, as described, the screw should be turned to move the slot 7a4 out of registerwith the opening r3, whereby the side of the cup portion will close said opening to prevent egress of oil and ingress of dust. The pedal is secured to its cra-nk by passing the pin B through an opening therein, the crank being confined between the nut y and jamb-washer 'y' in the usual way.

The pedal-franie A should be of comparatively soft steel and more or less springy, so that under a severe blow in use it will yield or bend. It is found that such frames are much more durable than those of hard steel. rlhe crank-pin B, bearing-cup C, and bearingnut D should be of veryhard metal-such as toolsteel-to resist wear at the ball-bearings, and my construction, which permits the frame to be of soft steel or the like and the bearings to be of tool-steel or the like, contributes materially to the durability and antifriction properties of the pedal.

In the modified construction shown inl `i 6 the oiling-opening r3 is threaded to receive a plug in the form of a screw t', which screw also operates to tighten a spring-finger fil, which by engaging a socket of the ratchet Z on the bearing-nut D locks the latter against independent rotation. To unlock the nut D the screw may be loosened and the iinger turned to one side, and to oil the bearings the screw must be withdrawn.

Fig. 7 shows my improvements applied to the hub and shaft or axle of a bicycle-whcel. On the axle are two bearing-cones n, with adjacent bearing-surfaces n2,eonstrueted substantially like the similarly-designated parts on the crank-pin described. 'lwo bearingnuts D, constructed in every way like those described, are employed, and they are screwed into cups or flanges 7L, forming part of: the wheel-hub and corresponding in construetion with the iiange or cup r described. At opposite ends entering the iiangcs 7L and riveted thereto is a housing-cylinder h', corresponding with the cylinder q described.

In Fig. 5 the end portion of the crank-pin. B where it is to pass through the crank is shown somewhat longer than in Figs. l, 3, and 6, so that it maybe fastened to the crank by means of the nut y. The other form is to be screwed into a threaded opening in a crank, a slot y2 being provided for the insertion of a screw-driver. The two forms shown meet the requirements of the constructions of cranks providedby different bicycle-manu facturers.

While I prefer to construct my improved ball-bearing mechanism in every way as IOO shown and described, it may be modified in the matter of details without departing from the spirit of my invention as defined by the claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a ball-bearing, the combination with the shaft and hub surrounding the shaft and the inner bearing-surface for the balls upon the shaft, an outer bearing comprising a nut having screw-threads to engage screw-threads in the hub and provided with a peripheral ratchet, a threaded screw-hole and an oilingopening in the hub, and a screw Working in said screw-hole across the said oiling-openin g and engaging the said ratchet, whereby it closes the said oiling-opening and locks the said nut, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a ball-bearing, in combination with the shaft and hub surrounding the shaft and the inner bearing-surface for the balls upon the shaft, an outer bearing comprising a nut having screw-threads t0 engage screwethreads in the hub and provided with a peripheral ratchet, a threaded screw-hole and an oilingopening in the hub, a screw k having a l1ollow flaring end k3 and slot ki, the screw passing through the said screw-hole to engage the said ratchet and lock the nut and extending across the oiling-opening, the screw being operative to register at its slot 7a4 with the said oiling-opening, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a ball-bearing, the combination with the shaft provided with the inner bearingsurface for the balls, of a hub loosely surrounding the shaft and provided with an end socket, an adjustable nut in the said socket,

forming an outer bearing for the balls, andv 

